Rhode Island Department of Education Lesson Plan

Lesson Title:

Into the 2nd dimension! (Free-body diagrams: 2-D motion); 50 minutes + 20 minute extension.

State Standards:

PS3 (9-11)–9 Students demonstrate an understanding of forces and motion by…
  • 9b using Newton’s Laws of Motion and the Law of Conservation of Momentum to predict the effect on the motion of objects.

National Standards:

CONTENT STANDARD B: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should
develop an understanding of...
  • Motions and forces

Context of Lesson:

This lesson is an expected stepping stone following the prior lesson on 1-D motion involving Newton's 2nd law. In this lesson students will be introduced to The Atwood Machine. Although one may say that this device is actually a single dimensional problem; I feel it provides the substance to encourage students to transition into two dimensional problems. Students will also be introduced to "internal forces" and the idea of tension. Though the idea of this may often pose confusion to first year physics students; it is pivotal that it is at least introduced early. The introduction of The Atwood Machine should come with the motivation that with simply the two masses of the objects attached to the machine; one can find ANYTHING about the system including position, velocity, acceleration, force, tension. Some of the main goals of this lesson include:
  • Identifying The Atwood Machine
  • Manipulating The Atwood Machine for more practical use
  • Defining Tension
  • Understanding "Internal Forces"
  • Applying Newton's 2nd law to problems involving tension
  • Continuing to gain comfortableness with further implicating the equations of kinematics into Newton's 2nd law problems

Opportunities to Learn:

Depth of Knowledge

Prerequisite Knowledge

Plans for Differentiating Instruction

Accommodations and modifications

Environmental factors

Materials


Objectives:

Instruction:

Opening:


Engagement:


Closure:


Assessment:




Reflections

(only done after lesson is enacted)

Student Work Sample 1 – Approaching Proficiency:

Student Work Sample 2 – Proficient:

Student Work Sample 3 – Exceeds Proficiency: